VERDICT: Ideal for a large adventure-loving family

CATEGORY: Three-row midsize SUV

SEATS: 6 or 7

STARTS AT: $43,330

COMPETES WITH: Kia Telluride, Honda Pilot TrailSport, Toyota Grand Highlander

As Jeep was in the process of overhauling the popular Grand Cherokee SUV from the inside out, the market demanded more three-row SUVs. Ask, and ye shall receive: the brand opted to launch the three-row Grand Cherokee L first and the two-row Grand Cherokee months later. By design, both versions look almost identical, and they are, in fact, the same from the front row up to the grille.

This is the right SUV for you if you have two kids or more and your family likes road trips, especially those of the adventurous kind. More and more people are venturing outside in the last few years to explore national parks, forests, and other off-road locations. That’s not to say that it’s not a great grocery-getter or errand-running machine; it is, and the Grand Cherokee L is incredibly comfortable in the process.

At 11.4 inches shorter than the Grand Cherokee, the L version offers several advantages to the two-row option. The Grand Cherokee L has 17.2 cubic feet of room behind the third-row seats, 46.9 cubic feet behind the second-row seats, and 84.6 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded down. In comparison, the Grand Cherokee includes 37.7 cubic feet behind the second row and 70.8 cubic feet with the back seats folded down. For cargo needs, the L wins this round. You and the kids will appreciate the plentiful cupholders and small storage spaces in the first and second rows.

Two powerplant options are available for the 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, a 290-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 engine (standard on the Laredo, Altitude, Limited, Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve trims) or a 357-horsepower 5.7-liter V8 (optional on the Overland and Summit variants). When going off-pavement is part of your family’s DNA, you’ll want the four-wheel drive option, which is optional for all trims and standard for the Summit Reserve.

You might not be impressed with the fuel economy, which is 21 miles per gallon with the base V6 and just 17 mpg with the V8. On the other hand, it’s not that far off from its competitors. Kia’s Telluride gets 21 mpg with all-wheel drive, and the Honda Pilot TrailSport (all-wheel drive as standard) gets 20 mpg. We’re hoping the Grand Cherokee L will be offered at some point as a 4xe variant, which pairs an electric motor with the engine for efficiency and all-electric power for a limited number of miles.

Need to install car seats? Depending on its configuration, the Grand Cherokee L has two or three complete sets of LATCH connectors for the second-row seats; note that the third row only includes two upper tethers.

Working your way up the Jeep Grand Cherokee L trim list, you’ll find features like a deluxe 19-speaker McIntosh audio system, heated, cooled, and massaging seats, air suspension, and more. Just know that all that gear comes with a price. The difference between the base Laredo trim and the topmost Summit Reserve is about $30,000. If that’s within your budget, you’ll get a plush, comfortable SUV capable of carrying you and your family just about anywhere you want to go.

Your Test Driver’s parent-centric take on the 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L

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